New book on Walter Lawry, pioneer Wesleyan missionary to Tonga

A new book exploring the life and legacy of the first Wesleyan missionary to Tonga has been released, bringing fresh insight into an important chapter of the Uniting Church’s shared Methodist heritage and its enduring relationships with the Pacific.

Walter Lawry: The First Wesleyan Missionary to Tonga, written by Rev Dr Clive Pearson, was officially launched by Uniting Church President Rev Charissa Suli on 3 November at Leigh Memorial Church in Parramatta.

The launch held particular significance at Leigh Memorial, where Lawry served as one of the early ministers and played an important role in establishing the Wesleyan presence in Parramatta. He also helped secure the site of the first chapel and, with his wife Mary, established the first Wesleyan Sunday School.

Drawing on Lawry’s diary and historical research, the book examines his journey from Cornwall to Australia and his eventual appointment to Tonga in 1822. It details the circumstances surrounding his departure for the Pacific, his challenging relationship with fellow missionary Samuel Leigh, and the difficulties he encountered during his time in Tonga.

Lawry, his wife Mary and their infant son Henry arrived in Tonga on 16 August 1822, where he spent just over a year establishing the early Wesleyan mission. His experience was marked by language barriers, isolation, uncertainty and, at times, threats to their safety. They departed on 4 October 1823.

Rev Dr Pearson's research also challenges some longstanding accounts of Lawry's departure, highlighting the influence of accusations made against him and the need to defend his reputation before Methodist leaders in London.

Lawry would return to Tonga in 1847, when he was invited to oversee the progress of the Methodist mission. His earlier experience had helped lay foundations for the work of those who followed, including John Thomas, who arrived in 1826.

In launching the book, President Suli reflected on the significance of remembering missionary history with both gratitude and honesty.

“As a daughter of Tonga, I am one of those who has inherited that faith. And I give thanks for the faithful witness of generations whose names may never appear in our history books,” she said.

President Suli acknowledged the contribution of early missionaries while emphasising that Tongan people were never simply passive recipients of Christianity.

“They became preachers, teachers, ministers and leaders. They nurtured communities of faith, passed on the Scriptures, and carried the Gospel beyond Tonga's shores.”

She also encouraged the Church to engage with the complexities of mission history, including cultural misunderstandings, colonial assumptions and unequal power.

“We do not honour our history by overlooking those complexities. We honour it by being willing to engage with the whole story, with gratitude, humility and honesty,” she said.

President Suli said the book offered an opportunity to deepen understanding of the connections between Methodism in Australia and the Christian story of Tonga, while strengthening relationships between the Uniting Church and its Pacific neighbours.

Rev Dr Pearson, a former Principal of United Theological College and Head of School at Charles Sturt University's School of Theology, has taught theology and ethics and published widely on public theology, migration and cultural diversity.

The book is available for $40, with all proceeds going towards the creation of an historical memorial site in Tonga. To purchase a copy, contact Rev Dr Clive Pearson at clivepearson@gmail.com.